As technology has developed over the years, the use of drones has become very common in many households and industries. For example, Wi-Fi controlled drones are a commonly used technique by many expert photographers and videographers all around the world. The breath-taking shots taken from a birds-eye view by these drones are a thing of awe. The necessary equipment necessary for these shots might not be cheap, but the results are something many photographers live for. Additionally, the mobility of drones allows for dynamic shots of any sort of action-packed events, such as sports events and so much more. In the following article, we will analyze various drones that are best in respective categories due to their price or versatility in usage.
Drones Under $100
SNAPTAIN S5C
In the first category, we’ll be dissecting contains drones that are priced under $100. The SNAPTAIN S5C, marking in at the price point of $89.99, is a great drone for newcomers to photography, and, allows for the complete drone experience for less than $100. Its simple user interface allows for easy usage for even those who have never had experience with drones before. This drone also comes with voice recognition that allows it to do simple commands such as taking off, landing, and moving while airborne, as well as some fancy-looking stunts such as flips. The drone offers up a range of up to 80m with the option to consistently stream the content to your phone that can be shared immediately. The drones have built-in safety guards on the propellers, reducing the risk of injury when it comes to playing around with your drone, as well as polymer materials to ensure safety in case of a crash. This drone can either steadily glide through the air and produce great quality birds-eye view shots or can be used to take dynamic videos or photos, by simply drawing across the screen of your phone, the trajectory the drone is supposed to follow.Check current prices on Amazon
Holy Stone HS110D FPV
The Holy Stone Hs100D FPV Drone is a great starting point for anyone looking into getting familiar with the use of drones in photography. This drone with an equipped 1080p HD camera offers a great experience for anyone looking to take their photographs and videos to new extremes, be it as a hobby or a profession. Starting at $72.99, requiring a bit of practice to learn to control at first, allows the user to fully control the movement of the drone, and getting familiar with the controller, allows users to create awe-inspiring works. The battery supporting a 10-minute flight is easy to replace and allows the user to extend the time taken on creating their shots with this drone. The mobile app contains many functions for the user to control freely and adjust the flight to their liking to the fullest.Check current prices on Amazon
DROCON Drone for Beginners X708W
This cheap drone, sold at the price of $55.99 is the perfect tool for customers that are unsure whether or not they want to invest so much into a drone. It’s a great choice for a new buyer as it allows them to get an experience of what owning a drone can be like, and all of the possibilities it opens up for photography and videography. With great all-around performance, this drone is quite good for its price, and as you would expect is quite easy for beginners to use, with the interface being as user-friendly as it gets. The built-in HD camera instantly sends video feedback to the paired smartphone and gives the user the chance to get familiar with their environment. Check current prices on Amazon
Drones Under $200
Holy Stone HS120D FPV
Moving on, we’ll discuss drones that are priced anywhere under $200. Our first entry is the Holy Stone HS120D FPV that is priced at $145.99. What makes this drone special is that it’s a well-balanced drone for either professional use or a casual family hobby. The safety installed in this drone allows for the drone to return home when the battery is low so losing it would never be a problem, allowing users to have fun with their kids while teaching them how to use a drone. The camera that comes installed with this drone takes 1080p HD photos at a 75 and 120 adjustable wide-angle FOV. The drone is simple to use and gives users access to headless mode, altitude hold, and simple controls to start ascending with the drone, as well as simple stopping mechanisms. The extended battery life is one of the most important parts of this drone and it gives users the chance to fly the drone for up to 17 minutes before it needs to come back to have the battery changed. Check current prices on Amazon
SIMREX X11 Upgraded GPS Drone
If you’re in a search for a drone with a more durable battery this machine is the right choice for you. With a battery life spanning over 22 minutes, the SIMREX X11 is a drone that is designed to travel great distances, without you needing to worry about its battery life running out. The immediate transmission of footage to the connected smartphone device is a great tool for comprehending your surroundings while still maintaining a great distance from the drone. The high-quality camera captures HD images and videos at a 1080p resolution and has an adjustable FPV camera. Even though it might seem worrying to most to set out their drone on such distances, the flight is fully assisted, and users are more than comfortable controlling this drone through their recordings. Not only is the flight itself assisted, but the user is given accurate GPS positioning at all times. Check current prices on Amazon
SNAPTAIN SP510 Foldable GPS
This sleek-looking foldable drone, is a great buy, for both beginners and experts. Not only does it look high quality, but it also performs quite well, with an impressive 2.7k camera, and 5G Wifi transmission, the footage captured by this drone, is of very high quality, and is shearable quite quickly and easily, through your smartphone. The range is one thing, most people first look into, and this drone offers a stunning range of up to 1000ft. The smart design of the drone allows users a worry-free exploration of their surroundings, whereas the features on it such as a beginner mode, which sets the maximum distance of the drone until you completely figure it out. It also offers different modes for the user, such as follow me mode, point of interest, waypoints, and object tracking, which all provide great fun, but also quality output. The drone’s functionality is one of the main things it boasts, as it is foldable and doesn’t take up much space, but is also easily rechargeable.Check current prices on Amazon
Drones Under $500
DJI Mavic Mini
The next category consists of drones priced under $500, with the first entry being DJI Mavic Mini. This light compact drone is a must-have for those looking to capture events happening to them using a different perspective. The prolonged flight is what this drone is about, and its light design is the reason it can last so long. The 12MP, 2.7k HD video camera is what sets the quality of this drone apart from other models, and the smooth, quality footage goes to prove it. The price for this drone is $399.00, however, if you want to get even more creative, the combo sets allow for adjustments and modifications to the drone for the price tag of $439.12. Check current prices on Amazon
Holy Stone HS720
Priced at $299.99, this drone offers the highest quality of footage, with a 4k camera and a 90(degree) adjustable lens, the captured videos, and images are of glaring quality. Its options are almost endless, where the flight is assisted to either follow you, or another object, or simply fly on assisted commands, this drone is a pleasure to work with. Considering the quality of the created footage, the battery life is also a boasting factor of this product, lasting up to 26 minutes, and with the drone instantly coming back when the battery life is low, changing the battery is as simple as it could be. Equipped with GPS tracking, it is impossible to lose even with its ridiculous range of 3000ft. It is foldable and comes with a carrying case custom made for it, so bringing it with you is not a bother. Check current prices on Amazon
Ruko F11 Pro Drone
This $299.99 drone, with long-lasting battery life, as well as the highest quality of cameras with 2.9k HD video quality, is a well-rounded choice for anyone looking to get into film-making and get proper high-quality equipment at reasonable price points. The range of this drone is a bit over 1500ft, which is quite impressive, being beginner-friendly as it is. Check current prices on Amazon
Drones Under $1000
DJI Mavic Air Quadcopter
Moving on, let’s take a look at the best drones priced under $1000, the first one being DJI Mavic Air Quadcopter. The main selling point of this $699.00 drone is its premium, high-quality camera that far exceeds most of its competition. Another feature is its compact design, which makes the 4k video it records, at 30 fps, even more impressive. The design of the drone is beautiful, and the designated controller also looks incredible. The modes it is equipped to enable different shooting types, and the range is absurdly large, with over 6000ft. Check current prices on Amazon
Autel Robotics EVO Foldable
The second entry on this list is Autel Robotics EVO Foldable drone. At first glimpse, this lightweight, foldable drone looks fragile, but its stability and strength in the air are unparalleled in the drone industry. It’s easy to use while having top-notch equipment including a 4K HD 60fps camera that can record videos at a 94-degree angle up to 30 minutes of length. The range of this drone is about 4.3 miles which are quite impressive and more than you’ll probably ever need. Priced at $999.00, this drone is an easy pick for any beginner photographer looking to take his/her work to the next level. Check current prices on Amazon
Parrot PF728000
This superb looking, miniature, compact is a stellar purchase for anyone looking for a premium quality drone. The camera attached to it boasts 4K HD quality video recording, being able to record content up to 25 minutes long. On the other hand, the photographs are taken with a 21MP camera, resulting in top-notch image quality. Additionally, the drone itself is very stable and safe, with options to help new users get properly acquainted with drones. Design-wise, the machine looks sophisticated and modern, having the battery of the drone installed in the back. Last but not least, the software developed for the drone is high quality as well, allowing the user to know the whereabouts of the drone at all times. Check current prices on Amazon
Best Drones for Beginners
Potensic T25
The first entry in the list of beginner-friendly drones is the drone named Potensic T25. What makes this drone a very good pick-up for any beginner is the option to land the drone with only one key, as well as the addition of the headless mode and the altitude mode, which are great options for any new drone user. When it comes to the technical aspect, the drone has a 1080P HD camera with both 120 and 75 angles that will provide pictures enriched with quality. Additionally, the drone is equipped with the follow me mode and GPS mode, giving you the option to roam around while being followed by your drone that will take pictures and record high-quality video content. Lastly, priced at $189.99, this drone is not too expensive and is a reasonable purchase for any new drone enthusiast. Check current prices on Amazon
Snaptain SP500
Moving on, we’ll take a look at the Snaptain Sp500. This drone is very-well catered for any beginner’s needs as it’s equipped with both altitude hold and headless mode options, emergency stop mode, and a one-key option for taking-off and landing. In terms of specs, this drone is a beast, with the option to take 1080P wide-angle photographs as well as high-quality video content. Additionally, the drone offers a nice touch that can prove useful when taking family photos with the gesture control option as well. Last but not least, the drone has a GPS auto return option that is appropriate if you end up losing the gadget, or just want to retrieve it when the battery runs low. Given the reasonable price of $169.99, this drone is certainly a great acquisition for any new drone owner. Check current prices on Amazon
Altair 818 Hornet
The last drone in this category is the Altair 818 Hornet drone that is easily recognizable due to its trademark yellow-black colorway. Just like the drones we previously mentioned, this one can hold its altitude and take off by only using one button. Furthermore, Altair 818 Hornet has multiple controller skill settings that can be specifically adjusted based on the experienced of the drone user and is generally very stable when airborne. Technically, the drone offers the FPV first-person view that can be adjusted on a headset or your smartphone, allowing you to capture high-quality live photos and video content. Generally speaking, Altair 818 Hornet is a great pickup for any new drone owner as it’s both aesthetically and technically appealing, at a price point of only $169.80. Check current prices on Amazon
Best drones for Heavy Lifting
Freefly ALTA UAV
Now, let’s move onto the best drones that are specifically made to carry heavy photography equipment. The first drone we’ll analyze is named Freefly ALTA UAV. The thing that makes this drone stand out at first is the fact that it can carry up to 15 pounds of equipment, therefore it’s able to carry any type of photography device. It’s beginner-friendly as well, with the option to fully assemble the drone in only 5 minutes, as well as use its revolutionary integrated SYNAPSE flight controller, which is an added feature that allows newer drone users to perform complex drone movements with ease. Check current prices on Amazon
DJI Agras MG-1
The second entry in this category is the drone named DJI Agras MG-1. What makes this drone a great purchase is the fact that it can carry up to 22 pounds of equipment as well as traverse up to 10 acres per hour while it’s taking pictures or recording. Additionally, DJI Agras MG-1 comes installed with the radar sensing feature that can detect the terrain, allowing the drone to position itself accordingly, adjust its altitude, and maintain it while airborne. The drone itself is easy to use, but DJI offers further training on controlling this gadget for new drone enthusiasts. Check current prices on Amazon
DJI S1000
The last drone we’ll talk about in this section is another DJI drone, named DJI S1000. Just like the drone previously mentioned, DJI S1000 prides itself on being able to carry heavy photography equipment while being very stable and sturdy while in flight. What makes this machine stand out as well as the fact that it’s built out of carbon fiber, resulting in unparalleled strength. Last but not least, it’s worth mentioning that this drone is easily adjustable as well, with its foldable arms in case you need to transport it. Check current prices on Amazon
Best drones for photography
DJI Phantom 4 Pro Drone Quadcopter
In the last segment of our list, we’ll take a look at the best drones that are designed for professional photographers. The first drone we’ll talk about is another DJI product, this one being named DJI Phantom 4 Pro Drone Quadcopter. Corresponding with its name, this drone is a fine piece of machinery, equipped with a 20MP 1-inch camera that can take photos of the highest quality. Additionally, it can record 4K video content in both 30FPS and 60FPS in 100Mbps bitrate. That’s not all this drone offers, as it also boasts obstacle sensors that detect obstacles in five directions while the drone is flying. While not being the cheapest drone on the market, priced at $1599.99, if you’re a professional photographer, this DJI quadcopter will surely fit your needs. Check current prices on Amazon
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom
Moving on, we’ll talk about another drone originating from the DJI family, name DJI Mavic 2 Zoom. Just like its name suggests, what makes this drone stand out is the fact that it boasts the double optical 24-48X zoom technology as well as the 12 MP sensor that zooms up to 4X. The photographs it takes are top-notch, as the drone is equipped with a 48MP camera. It has many neat improvements over other drones such as proper propulsion optimization, noise reduction as well as decreased power consumption. Valued at $1349.00, this drone is a remarkable choice for anyone that needs consistent zooming while working as well as taking top-notch photographs in the process. Check current prices on Amazon
Autel Robotics EVO Foldable
The last entry on this category and this list is the Autel Robotics EVO Foldable drone that we previously mentioned. What makes this drone a great pick for professional photography as well is that it’s a great bang-for-buck purchase. Priced at $999.00, this drone has all of the features a professional photographer requires, with a camera capturing 4K HD video content at 60 FPS and 12 MP photos. It’s equipped with GPS and GLONASS technology that detects obstacles and avoids them accordingly. Additionally, this drone is a great purchase for beginners, as it has the one-button take-off and landing options. Generally speaking, Autel Robotics EVO Foldable is a good option for any rookie photographer wanting to get his work to the next level. Check current prices on Amazon
Markeyus Franks is an author, entrepreneur, and Youtuber who has a strong passion for technology. He's the owner of Plentyofgadgets and has authored three books to date. Mark believes in a future where technology pushes the limits of what's possible and what's not. He also believes it's better to be well informed and prepared to take on any new technology of the future than to sit back a let innovation pass us by.
